Byron Shire playgrounds, outdoor dining strips, and sports fields are going smoke free following a Council decision to protect the community’s health from harmful tobacco fumes.
Mayor Jan Barham said that Council had listened to the community’s voice when voting to introduce a smoke-free outdoor areas policy which will end smoking in many popular outdoor areas.
The policy has been praised by the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council. The extension of the ban to include al fresco dining areas on public land puts it in a small group of just 31 in NSW.
Ms Barham said, ‘Submissions and survey results from the public exhibition were very supportive and as a result the policy has been adopted. It’s a very emotive topic and the issues of secondhand smoke, passive smoking and littering were of significant concern for the community.’
The policy also limits smoking at bus stops and taxi ranks, along with all Council-owned and -managed buildings, events and car parks.
Sandra Rowan from Cancer Council’s Far North Coast office said: ‘Cancer Council is delighted Byron Shire Council has taken this crucial step to protect children, parents and the whole community from toxic secondhand smoke.
‘Breathing secondhand smoke is not just an unpleasant experience, it can also lead to some serious life threatening health problems including heart disease, cancer and asthma, which nobody would wish on their kids.
‘Now, all residents and visitors to Byron Shire will soon be able to enjoy an outdoor meal, trip to the park or an afternoon at the football without having to face this risk.’
Mayor Jan Barham said the objective of the policy was to improve the community’s health, raise awareness of issues associated with smoking, improve public amenity and minimise butt pollution on Council-owned open spaces.
‘Council has an on-the-ground leadership role to promote public health outcomes and a commitment to improve the natural environment and amenity of our towns and villages.’
For example, said Mayor Barham that the Shire has a very active sporting community with a growing number of young people involved in sports each year. She said the banning of smoking on sports fields will help protect young people from the impacts of smoking and limit their exposure to the example of people smoking.
Mayor Barham said urged the community and visitors to embrace the new smoke-free self-regulation and consider where they next ‘light up’.